Ingot-tongs



A. A. HANLAN.

INGOT TONGS. v APPLICATION FILED MAY 19. I911.

' PatentdJune 10, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANGUS *AQHANLAN, Ont- GARY, INDIANA. v

meow-Tones.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jane 10, 1919.

Application filed May 19, 1917. Serial No. 169,702.

manipulation of ingots a construction employing a vertically reciprocable beamusually mounted on a crane, the beam having at its lower end a pair of tong levers, the upper ends of the levers cooperating with diagonal guides whereby the tongs are automatically opened and closed when the tong head is reciprocated relative to the beam. In addition means in the form of a motor and cables were provided for raising the tongs to release them from the ingot and to retain the tongs in open position ready to grasp another ingot. This required considerable mechanism and some skill in operation.

An object in the present invention is to simplify the mechanism and to so arrange the parts that the operation is substantially automatic. By my arrangement the tongs are lowered upon an ingot and allowed to rest thereon while the beam is allowed to descend a short distance farther. This serves to release the holding means whereupon as the beam is lifted the tongs automatically grasp the ingot. WVhen the ingot is to be released it is lowered to a support and the beam is allowed to continue its descent a short distance. This effects the operation of certain cooperating parts which retains the tongs in open position.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is aside elevation of an ingot lifting device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partly in section showing the lower end arrangement, and,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation showing the upper end.

In the drawings the crane is indicated at 10. A suitable motor cooperating with the gears. 11 serves toraise and lower a beam or plunger 12 Within the lower end of whlch the tong head 13 is mounted. The tong head is provided with a cylindrical extension-lt' which engages within a cylinder 15 mounted on the lower end of the beam. A pair of oppositely disposed diagonal guideways 16 are also secured to the beam. On the tong head are pivoted the tong levers 1718,"each of which is provided at its upper end with suitable anti-friction rollers 19 co6perating with the guideways 16'. An ingot is adapted to be grasped between the downwardly projecting arms of the tongs,

the tong levers being oscillated by the relative movement of the tong head to the beam. A rod 20 is connected to the tong head and extends upwardly through the guides 21 and the guide 22 terminating in a T-shaped member 23. Pivoted adjacent the T-head are two dogs or pawls 2425 having weighted projections which tend to hold the dogs in the dotted line position of Fig. 3. The arrangement is such that when the rod is moved upwardly to a point slightly beyond that shown in Fig. 3 the dogs-will swing to the dotted line position. Upon the descent of the rod therefore the dogs will offer no resistance but will be rotated on their pivots. If, however, the rod and the tong head to which it is attached are raised to substantially the point shown in Fig.3, the dogs will engage beneath the T-head and the parts will be retained in the position of Figs. 2 and 3.

In operation therefore it will be seen that with the tongs in the position of Fig. 2, the beam may be lowered until the tong head rests upon an ingot whereupon the beam is allowed to descend a short distance farther and the dogs will release the head. If the beam is then raised the head will remain on V the ingot and the tongs will be caused to grasp the same by the cooperation of their upper ends with the inclined guideways. WVhen the ingot is to be released it is allowed to rest on a support whereupon the beam is lowered to the position of Fig. 3 and the tongs will be held in that position. The operation is substantially automatic and no motor, drum or cables are necessary.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a vertically reciprocable beam, a tong head reciprocably mounted in the lower end of said beam, a pair of tongs pivoted on said head, diagonal guides car-- ried by said beam for opening and closing said tongs when said head is reciprocated, and automatlc means for retaining said head in its elevated position,substantially as'described.

2. In ingot lifting means, the combination of avertieally movable plunger having a dimember when said head is recip'rocated, a

rod connected to said tong head, and a, pivoted dog cooperating with said rod, the arrangement being such that when said head is forced upwardly the rod is caught'by said dog and the head is retained in open position, substantially as described.

3. In awdevice of the class described, the

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 7 i

combination of avertically reciprocable beam, a tong head reciprocable in the lower end of'the beam, a pair of levers pivoted to said head, diagonal guides carried by said beam, the upper ends of said levers cooperatlng With said guides, a rod connected to said head, a pivoted dog carried by the beam and adapted to cooperate with said rod to retain the head in elevated position, the

dog being so arranged that further upward movement of the head and rod Will release the dog and permit the descent ofthe head, substantially as described.

Signed at Gary, State of Indiana, this 12th day of May, A. D, 1917 3 v, 4 ANGUS A. HANLAN; Witnesses r -H. O. EGEBERG,

A. L. HULTGREN.

Washington, D. G. 

